Method for making containers, and corresponding container

ABSTRACT

A container comprises a containment body having a main axis and a mouth or neck part, the opening of which defines a mouth plane of the container oriented in a direction transverse with respect to the main axis, where applied on at least part of the container is a tubular sleeve of film material shrunk on the container itself. The tubular sleeve has at least one end edge having, in different points of its angular development, different distances from the mouth plane. Preferentially, the container is likewise provided with at least one sculptured annular edge having a profile homologous to the profile of the aforesaid end edge of the tubular sleeve, and the sleeve is applied on the container with said end edge coinciding with the aforesaid sculptured annular edge having the homologous profile.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The description relates to containers and to the corresponding production methods.

The description has been developed with particular attention paid to the possible application to containers that comprise a containment body with a mouth or neck part (hence containers such as bottles, flasks, jars, and the like) that can be used for bottling foodstuff products, such as for example beverages. The field of application of the description is not, however, limited to this specific context of application.

DESCRIPTION OF THE RELATED ART

For some time now there have been widely used for bottling or packaging products of various nature (beverages, detergents, both in liquid form and in granular form or, in general, flowable form) containers, which comprise a containment body with a mouth or neck part that can be reclosed with a top or lid and in which the container carries applied thereon a tubular sleeve of film material shrunk on the container. In various known solutions, the sleeve in question is formed by a film of heat-shrinkable material. The sleeve thus fitted on the container is then exposed to a source of heat. The heat brings about radial shrinkage or contraction of the sleeve; consequently, between the sleeve and the container a stable shape fit is obtained such as to cause the sleeve to be fixedly anchored on the container.

FIG. 7 of the annexed drawings is a schematic illustration of a container of the above sort, designated as a whole by 10. In the solution illustrated by way of example in FIG. 7, the container 10 (which may, for example, be made of a material such as glass or moulded plastic) has a main axis of extension X10 and comprises a containment part or body 12 with a mouth or neck part 14. The part 14 terminates in a mouth portion, which is, for example, threaded and enables closing of the container 10 with a top or lid. The mouth or neck part 14 terminates with a mouth or opening, which extends along a path that is as a whole circular—for example, smooth or possibly indented—lying in a mouth plane 140 oriented in a direction transverse with respect to the main axis X10.

The sleeve, designated by 16, usually bears graphics 18 (for example, figures and/or wordings of various nature, which represent the product contained in the container 10).

FIG. 7 highlights the fact that, even though the sleeve 16 does not necessarily have a cylindrical shape (in the example illustrated it has in fact an as a whole ogival shape), it has two end edges 16 a, 16 b which extend along circular paths lying in two respective planes, α and β, which are transverse (orthogonal) with respect to the main axis X10 of the container 10. In other words, the two end edges 16 a, 16 b illustrated in FIG. 7 extend along paths having, throughout their circular development, a constant distance (D1 for the edge 16 a and D2 for the edge 16 b) from the mouth plane 140.

OBJECT AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The inventors have noted that containers such as the container described previously present limitations of various nature.

For example, the fact that the end edges of the sleeve extend along circular paths, lying in planes transverse with respect to the main axis of the container (i.e., at a constant distance from the mouth plane) limits the creative possibilities linked to the development of the sleeve and/or of the graphics present thereon. This applies also in the case where part of the sleeve is left transparent so that it is possible to see an underlying portion of container through the sleeve.

Again, a sleeve like the one considered previously is suited to being fitted on the container according to any spatial orientation. This applies both in the case where the container presents a complete symmetry of rotation (for example, because it is cylindrical) and in the case where the container has a prismatic structure (for example, with hexagonal cross section) or a squeezed structure. In the latter case, wordings or figures appearing on the sleeve that ought to correspond to the main faces of the squeezed body end up being shifted/rotated and hence not readily visible/readable by whoever looks at the container to see what appears on one of the main faces of the flattened body. Substantially similar problems may arise, for example, when the container is set, together with other containers, in a transparent pack or a pack with window in conditions where it would be desirable for the containers set alongside one another to present all the respective graphics of the sleeve in the same spatial position, and not distributed in a disorderly way from container to container.

There is hence felt the need to provide a solution capable of overcoming the aforesaid drawbacks. The object of the invention is to provide a solution of the above sort.

According to the invention, the above object is achieved thanks to a method having the characteristics recalled specifically in the ensuing claims.

The invention also regards a corresponding container.

The claims form an integral part of the technical teaching provided herein in relation to the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE ANNEXED DRAWINGS

The invention will now be described, purely by way of non-limiting example, with reference to the annexed drawings, wherein:

FIGS. 1 to 4 represent successive steps of a method according to one embodiment, FIG. 4 being a view according to the line IV-IV of FIG. 3;

FIGS. 5 and 6 illustrate the characteristics of a container according to embodiments; and

FIG. 7 has already been described previously.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

In the ensuing description various specific details are illustrated aimed at an in-depth understanding of the embodiments. The embodiments may be provided without one or more of the specific details, or with other methods, components, materials, etc. In other cases, known structures, materials, or operations are not shown or described in detail in order not to obscure various aspects of the embodiments.

The reference to “an embodiment” or “one embodiment” in the framework of the present description indicates that a particular configuration, structure, or characteristic described in relation to the embodiment is comprised in at least one embodiment. Hence, phrases such as “in an embodiment” or “in one embodiment” that may be present in different points of this description do not necessarily refer to one and the same embodiment. In addition, particular conformations, structures, or characteristics may be combined in any adequate way in one or more embodiments.

The references used herein are provided merely for convenience and hence do not define the sphere of protection or the scope of the embodiments.

FIGS. 1 and 2 illustrate two of the steps of production of sleeves 16 designed to be applied on a container 10 corresponding in general terms, except where otherwise indicated, to the solution already considered previously with reference to FIG. 7.

In the sequel of the present description, elements, parts, and components that are identical or equivalent to elements, parts, and components already described previously in relation to FIG. 7 will consequently be designated by the same reference numbers; for brevity, the corresponding description will not be repeated.

In particular, the sleeves 16 illustrated in FIG. 2, as likewise the material from which they are obtained, bear (obtained according to known criteria) graphics 18, here represented by way of example in the form of two letters “F” designed to appear on opposite faces of the sleeve 16, as may be seen in FIGS. 5 and 6.

In various embodiments, the sleeves 16 are obtained starting from a shrinkable-film material, such as for example, heat-shrinkable material. In the sequel of the present description reference will be made for simplicity to use of a heat-shrinkable material. Comprised, on the other hand, within the scope of the description is the use of shrinkable materials the shrinking characteristics of which, used for purposes of application of the sleeves 16, are achieved with different criteria, for example by photo shrinkage.

Heat-shrinkable materials that can be used to produce the sleeves 16 are, for example, films of PET, OPS (oriented polystyrene), or PVC.

In various embodiments, the heat-shrinking characteristics are obtained by subjecting a film material of this type to a uni-axial or bi-axial stretching with subsequent controlled cooling. Following upon cooling, the film material preserves the extended condition but, when it is then exposed to a source of heat, the effect of heating gives rise to a sort of “shape memory” mechanism such as to cause the film material to shrink towards the original non-extended condition that it had before undergoing stretching.

All this corresponds to principles and criteria of production known in the art so that a more detailed description herein would be superfluous.

In various embodiments, a film material of this sort is initially produced in a semi-finished tubular length 160. In various embodiments, by operating according to known criteria, the semi-finished tubular length 160 is obtained by folding in a V a web body, which is then reclosed to form a tube by gluing on one another the distal edges of the configuration folded in a V.

The semi-finished tubular length 160 in the form of web is fed to a cutting station 200 designed to subject the semi-finished tubular length 160 itself to an operation of segmentation, which leads to formation of a chain of sleeves 16 designed to be then applied on successive containers 10.

In various embodiments, the cutting station 200 can be provided in the form of a dinking machine of the type with counter-rotating rotary cutting roller and counter-roller (or anvil), which is able to subject the semi-finished tubular length 160 to an operation of providing slits obtained by cutting away of the area of the slits, with consequent segmentation in successive sleeves 16 produced in such a way as not to interrupt the continuity of the material of the semi-finished tubular length 160. In other words (as shown schematically in FIG. 2), the sleeves 16 leaving the cutting station 200 are still connected together in a chain and can hence be fed to the station where they are applied on the containers 10 (see FIG. 3) preserving a general continuous-web structure.

In various embodiments, this result can be obtained by causing the dinking machine 200 to carry out on the semi-finished tubular length of shrinkable material 160 an operation of formation of slits with a pitch corresponding to the height of the sleeves 16. In various embodiments, the dinking machine 200 forms in the semi-finished tubular length 160 openings or slits 202, which, in the example of embodiment illustrated herein, assume a shape that can be roughly defined as “eyelid shape”. Hence, they are openings or windows delimited, on one side, by a rectilinear cut and, on the opposite side, by an arched cut.

It may be readily understood that the cuts 16 a and 16 b are designed to form in each sleeve 16 the homologous end edges designated precisely by 16 a and 16 b in FIGS. 5 and 6: this explains why said references appear also in FIG. 2. Viewing together FIG. 2 and FIGS. 5 and 6 it may likewise be appreciated that the cutting operation carried out in the station 200 is performed “in phase” with the graphics 18, in such a way that each sleeve 16 presents the graphics 18 in a pre-set position with respect to its end edges 16 a and 16 b.

The sleeves 16 that leave the cutting unit 200 are, however, by now connected together in a chain at end connecting portions 16 c, which are not involved in the cutting action performed in the station 200.

These modes of formation and treatment (cutting/dinking) of the semi-finished tubular length 160 mean that both the semi-finished tubular length 160 and the chain of sleeves 16, which is formed starting from the semi-finished tubular length 160, albeit having a tubular structure, present as web-like bodies that can be wound on reels. Both the semi-finished tubular length 160 and the chain of sleeves 16 can hence be produced at times and in places different from when and where they are subsequently used.

Passing now to an examination of FIG. 3, in the example of embodiment considered here, it is assumed that the chain of sleeves 16 is dropped from above downwards (thanks to the drawing action obtained, for example, via opposed motor-driven rollers 204) towards a station of application on the containers 10, designated as a whole by 206.

In the example considered here, which, it is emphasized, is nothing more than an example, the sleeves 16 are designed to be fitted on the individual container 10 on the top part, i.e., in a position corresponding or adjacent to the mouth or neck part 14: this choice is not, on the other hand, limiting or imperative for the purposes of implementation of the embodiments.

To fit the sleeves 16 on the containers 10, which—once again with reference to the example considered in FIG. 3—are assumed to advance from left to right moved by a conveyor 208 (for example, by a motor-driven belt conveyor, a worm conveyor, a carousel, or a star wheel), they are at least in part opened out starting from the flattened condition of formation. The action of opening-out is carried out by causing the chain of the sleeves 16 to drop on an opening device 210, which can have, for example, a circular cross section, which penetrates (obviously, the movement involved is a relative movement, in so far as it is here assumed that the chain of sleeves 16 drops from above downwards, with the body 210 held in a fixed position) within the cavity of the tubular structure of the sleeves 16, bringing about gradual opening out thereof.

The motor-driven rollers 204 hence draw the chain of sleeves 16 from above downwards causing it to drop on the opening device 210. At the bottom end of the opening device 210 each individual sleeve 16 is thus opened out to form a cylinder and subjected to the action of cutting means 212 (for example with rotary-disk blade) designed to cut the connecting portions 16 c. The sleeve 16, thus separated from the web-like chain of which it previously formed part, assumes the nature of single body, independent of the chain from which it is formed, and is then further drawn along by the rollers 204 so as to be transferred and fitted on a respective container 10 arriving (from left to right, as viewed in FIG. 3) on the conveyor 208.

In various embodiments, the containers 10 can advance towards the area where transfer of the sleeves 16 inserted in respective tubular templates 201 (represented dashed in FIG. 3) is envisaged, each of which has a top edge having a profile complementary to the profile of the edge 16 b of the sleeve 16.

In practice, the top edge of the template 201 serves as rest for the sleeve 16, thus preventing the latter from slipping in an uncontrolled way on the container 10.

In various embodiments, the movement of descent of the sleeves 16 and the movement of advance of the containers 10 towards the station 206 occurs continuously, without any stops, there being envisaged an electronic synchronization between the rollers 204 that fit the sleeves on the containers 10 and the conveyor 208 that conveys the containers 10. The provision of synchronizations of this type is well known in the automatic-packaging sector, and renders any further more detailed description superfluous herein.

Whatever the solution adopted, from an observation of the bottom left part of FIG. 3 it may be appreciated that the containers 10 are fed with a given orientation.

In particular, from FIGS. 5 and 6 (this aspect will be further treated in what follows) it may be appreciated that, in various embodiments, the sleeves 16 (see in particular FIGS. 5 and 6) have:

a top edge 16 a, which—as in the case of the container 10 represented in FIG. 7—extends according to a plane circular path, lying in a plane α, which is a plane transverse (orthogonal) to the main axis X10 of the container so that the edge 16 a has, throughout its circular development, a constant distance D1 with respect to the mouth plane 140; and

a bottom edge 16 b, which—unlike what has been seen for the container 10 represented in FIG. 7—extends according to an annular path that is not plane, but, so to speak, wavy and consequently comprises a number of stretches that extend in planes y′, y″ that are oblique, i.e., inclined (such as to form a dihedron) with respect to the family of the transverse planes orthogonal to the main axis X10 of the container so that the edge 16 b has, in different points of its angular development about the axis X10, different distances from the mouth plane 140 that range from a minimum value D2′ to a maximum value D2″.

In various embodiments, the edge 16 b can extend according to a generally annular path, which lies not in a plane, as in the case of the plane β of FIG. 7, but rather in an arched surface of lie that, albeit remaining as a whole transverse with respect to the axis X10, has a general tile profile.

In various embodiments, instead of having a height (i.e., a dimension measured in the direction of the axis X10) that is practically constant (as in the case of FIG. 7), the edges have a height that ranges between a minimum value and a maximum value, which are designated by H and K in FIG. 6.

It will be appreciated that, in various embodiments, the same general idea can be implemented according to different modes, for example:

what has been said for the edge 16 b can apply, additionally or alternatively, to the top edge 16 a;

instead of the wavy profile illustrated herein, with two maxima and two minima (that is, with two diametrically opposed lobes so that the sleeve 16 has a general “shawl” conformation), one or both of the edges 16 a, 16 b of the sleeve 16 could present, in different points of their angular development, different distances from the mouth plane 140 for the sole fact that they lie on a plane surface set oblique with respect to the main axis X10, so as to present a minimum and maximum distance from the mouth plane 140 in two diametrically opposite positions;

in various embodiments the edge 16 b and/or the edge 16 a could have a wavy profile with a number of maxima and minima higher than two.

As will be appreciated more clearly from FIG. 5 (but also from FIGS. 3 and 4), in various embodiments the container 10 has a sculptured annular edge 102 (which is projecting, in the examples of embodiment illustrated herein, but in various embodiments could be recessed with respect to the external development of the body 10), which extends about the axis X10 according to a path that is homologous (and hence such as to reproduce) the path of the edge 16 b of the sleeve 16.

In various embodiments, the container 10 can present a sculptured annular edge 102 that is partly projecting and partly recessed with respect to the external development of the body 10.

The considerations made previously in relation to the path of the edge 16 b (and possibly of the edge 16 a) hence identically apply to the path of the sculptured annular edge 102.

For example, with reference to FIG. 5, it may be appreciated that the container 10 has, delimited at the bottom by the edge 102, a top part (on which the sleeve 16 is to be applied), at least slightly projecting with respect to the overall development of the container 10. Also this slightly projecting part has a variable height, such as to assume a maximum value in the diametrically opposite angular positions where the graphics 18 appears (the letter F, in the simplified example adopted here) and a minimum value in two angular positions staggered by 90°. The sleeve 16, and the part of the container 10 on which the latter is applied hence have, in the examples of embodiment illustrated here, complementary edges 16 b and 102 both with a lobed profile or a wavy profile with two maxima and two minima.

In the example of embodiment referred to in FIG. 3, the containers 10 are made to advance on the conveyor 208 controlling the orientation thereof about the main axis X10, in particular causing the two angular positions where the slightly projecting part of container that is to be covered by the sleeve 16 is “higher” to be set in a front and rear position, hence aligned with the direction of advance of the container, whilst the two angular positions where the part of container that is to be covered by the sleeve 16 is “lower” is located are oriented sideways on, crosswise with respect to the direction of advance of the container.

In this way, the sleeves 16 are fitted on the containers 10 in such a way that the orientation of the sleeve 16 about the main axis X10 of the respective container 10 is not random but controlled: the two portions where the individual sleeve 16 is higher (i.e., where the cutting devices 212 cut the connecting portions 16 c) come to coincide exactly with the angular positions where the part of the container 10 delimited at the bottom by the sculptured annular edge 102 is at the maximum height. In this way, the bottom edge 16 b of the individual sleeve 16 is in fact brought to mate with the sculptured annular edge 102.

This mode of operation causes the graphics (for example, the letter F) obtained—in a given and controlled position—on each sleeve 16 to occupy a precise and definite position with respect to the sculptured annular edge 102 and hence to the container 10 as a whole. For example (with reference for simplicity to the views of FIGS. 5 and 6), the letters F designated by 18, and provided where the sleeve 16 has the maximum height (value K represented in FIG. 6), are located exactly in the desired angular position, where the part of the container 10 delimited at the bottom by the edge 102 has the maximum height.

Once the sleeve 16 is fitted on the container 10 (and rests with its bottom edge 16 b on the template 201) the movement of advance of the container 10 brings the sleeve 16 to be exposed to sources of heat 214 (for example jets of hot air or lamps), which bring about an at least partial initial shrinking of the sleeve 16.

Meanwhile, as shown schematically in FIG. 4, the sleeve 16 itself is kept stationary on the container 10 in so far as it rests at the bottom on the template 201 and/or in so far as it is withheld by retention elements constituted, for example, by grippers or pressure elements 216 moved by actuators 218, for instance of a fluid type.

The elements 216 can be made to advance selectively towards the container 10 so as to keep the sleeve 16 fitted on the container 10 stationary for a sufficient time to cause the sleeve 16, which is starting to shrink, to anchor on the container 10 and not to shift any longer even though the shrinkage process is not yet complete.

In this regard it will be appreciated that:

in various embodiments, mere resting on the template 201 is sufficient to cause the sleeve 16 to be kept stationary on the container 10 during the step of pre-shrinkage of the sleeve 16 so that it is possible to do without the retention elements 216;

in various embodiments, recourse to the templates 201 may not be envisaged in so far as the correctness of the position with which the sleeves 16 are fitted on the containers 10 is ensured with other means, or else it may be envisaged that the templates are removed immediately after the sleeves 16 have been fitted on the containers 10: in these cases, the sleeve 16 is kept stationary on the container 10 during the step of pre-shrinkage by the retention elements 216 alone;

in various embodiments, as represented in FIG. 4, the sleeve 16 is kept stationary on the container 10 during the step of pre-shrinkage both by being rested on the template 201 and by the retention elements 216.

In this regard, it will once again be noted that, in the case of containers where the sculptured annular edge 102, instead of being at least slightly projecting, as in the example considered here, is a recessed edge, the function of support for resting of the bottom edge 16 b of the sleeve 16 can be performed (both when the sleeve is fitted on the container and during the pre-shrinkage step) by the sculptured annular edge 102, avoiding the need to resort to the template 201.

Once the sleeve 16 no longer runs the risk of being shifted accidentally, the container 10 with the sleeve 16 fitted thereon can be sent on to a shrinking station 220. In various embodiments, a station of this type can be constituted, for example, by a shrinking oven (for instance, of the steam or hot-air type), through which the containers 10 are fed for a time sufficient to cause the process of shrinking of the sleeves 16 to be completed leading to complete shape fit of the sleeve 16 on the part of the container 10 on which it has been applied, i.e., until the conditions represented in FIGS. 5 and 6 are obtained.

The templates 201 (if envisaged) can be removed either upstream or downstream of the shrinking station 220.

The containers thus completed, filled and topped, can be sent on to the subsequent treatment operations such as, for example, boxing.

From an observation of the figures it may be appreciated that various embodiments enable solution of the problem of applying on the container 10 a tubular sleeve 16 overcoming the limitations present in a solution such as the one illustrated in FIG. 7 where the end edges 16 a and 16 b of the sleeve 16 lie in planes α and β orthogonal with respect to the main axis X10 of the container, at constant distances D1, D2 from the mouth plane 140.

In addition to enabling greater margins of freedom in the provision of the graphics 18, various embodiments make it also possible to ensure an exact orientation of said graphics with respect to the container 10, thus enabling a desired exact orientation of the graphics to be obtained both in packaging conditions and in conditions of display of the container 10 and of the product contained therein.

Consequently, without prejudice to the principle of the invention, the details of construction and the embodiments may vary, even significantly, with respect to what is illustrated purely by way of non-limiting example herein, without thereby departing from the scope of the invention, as defined by the annexed claims. 

1-13. (canceled)
 14. A method of producing containers including a containment body with a main axis and a mouth or neck portion defining a mouth plane of the container extending crosswise said main axis, with a tubular sleeve of a film material applied on at least part of the container and shrunk on the container, the method including: applying said sleeves onto said containers by controlling the orientation of the sleeves with respect to the main axis of the containers, and forming said tubular sleeves with at least one end edge which, with the sleeve applied and shrunk on the container has, at different points of its angular development around said main axis, different distances with respect to said mouth plane.
 15. The method of claim 14, including: providing in said containers at least an annular sculptured edge having, at different points of its angular development around said main axis, different distances with respect to said mouth plane with a trajectory homologous to the trajectory of said at least one end edge of said tubular sleeves, and applying said sleeves onto said containers by bringing said at least one end edge to coincide with said at least one sculptured edge of the container having a homologous trajectory.
 16. The method of claim 14, including: forming a tubular blank of a shrinkable film material, and forming said tubular sleeves by segmenting said tubular blank by providing, in each sleeve thus formed, said at least one end edge.
 17. The method of claim 16, including: forming said tubular blank in the form of a web, forming said tubular sleeves by segmenting said web-like tubular blank, and opening out said tubular sleeves to apply them onto said containers preferably by means of a relative movement of the sleeves with respect to an opener member.
 18. The method of claim 16, including: forming said tubular sleeves by segmenting said tubular blank by leaving connecting formations between adjacent sleeves, whereby the sleeves thus formed constitute a chain of sleeves connected to each other, feeding said chain of sleeves towards the containers onto which the sleeves are applied.
 19. The method of claim 18, including separating said tubular sleeves by rupturing said connection formations before the sleeves are applied onto the containers.
 20. The method of claim 14, including coupling templates to said containers, said templates forming a support surface for the sleeves applied onto said containers.
 21. The method of claim 14, wherein applying said sleeves onto said containers by controlling the orientation of the sleeves with respect to the main axis of the containers includes advancing said sleeves and said containers towards a zone where the sleeves are applied onto the containers by maintaining a pre-determined relative orientation of said sleeves and said containers.
 22. The method of claim 14, including: retaining by retaining means the sleeves applied onto respective containers while subjecting them to a first shrinking step to couple the sleeves onto respective containers, and completing shrinking of the sleeves coupled to the respective containers as a result of said first shrinking step after releasing the sleeves from said retaining means.
 23. The method of claim 14, wherein said film material is a heat-shrinkable material.
 24. A container including a containment body with a main axis and a mouth or neck portion defining a mouth plane of the container extending crosswise said main axis, with a tubular sleeve of a film material applied on at least part of the container and shrunk on the container, wherein said tubular sleeve has at least one end edge having, at different points of its angular development around said main axis, different distances with respect to said mouth plane.
 25. The container of claim 24, having at least one annular sculptured edge having a trajectory homologous to the trajectory of said at least one end edge of said tubular sleeve, said sleeve being applied on the container with said at least one edge coincident with said at least one sculptured edge having a homologous trajectory.
 26. The container of claim 24, wherein said tubular sleeve is of a heat-shrinkable material heat-shrunk on the container. 